Stilo - when will it be killed?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know how much longer the Stilo is expected to be produced, to be replaced with, as someone put, the Bravo 2 (if they have any sense)?

What the hell has happened to the Fiat designing team the last couple of years?
The last few new designs have almost zero flair.

 

[Danny]

I disagree some of the stilos are flippin awful to say the least but the 3 door variants do look quite nice. esp the abarth.

 

[Roberto]

Given FIAT's precarious financial position, and the fact that Stilo sales seem to be picking up, I wouldn't expect to see it dropped or replaced until some time in 2006/7 or after. They are due to give it a facelift, but don't expect anything drastic. It will just be cosmetic tweaks and a price re-alignment.

Then again, GM could take over or FIAT go bust, and who knows what might happen

Rob



The Temperature At Which Truth Burns

 

[Dan]

The facelift has already have happened aparently, according to the lax fower peeps :s

Dan

now sporting my badger badger badger t-shirt

 

[Barakka]

Agreed, Fiat always jump ahead in style in advance of everyone else.

Every new design of Fiat (yes even the Bravo) is slated when it comes out, then give it 12 months and everyone's copying. Mk1 Punto came out all smooth and rounded, everyone copied. Mk2 Punto went all sharp and everyone has now copied. Bravo had the distinctive halo lights at the back and everyone copied* - Mondeo, Megane, Matiz, TVR etc. etc

The Stilo is based on the Bravo/a just as the Bravo was based on the Tipo - a lot of the lines on the Stilo are the same as the Bravo - just sharp instead of smooth. Again distinctive rear lights, and some of the novelty items like the mad roof are really making it different.

The Bravo and Punto (Mk1) are very good designs - they don't look to have aged anywhere near as much as other marques of the same age. The Stilo has more of the "Business mans Briefcase" look about it, but what doesn't these days !

*NB - Yes I know Fiat copied them from a Ferrari, but hey - they owned Ferrari

 

[Roberto]

It did ?? Blimey, that was subtle. Thank god it wasn't as bad as the Punto facelift....how much more like a VW Polo does that car want to be ???

Rob



The Temperature At Which Truth Burns

 

[Anonymous]

I fully agree that Fiat are generally more daring with their design.
Fiat does manage to introduce a lot of styling features that other manufacturers emulate in the next redesign.

Those halo rear lights still look awesome on the Bravo. On anything else, you find yourself thinking that they are just rip offs.
(Apparently, Toyota has claimed that Fiat ripped off the design from a prototype that didn't make production.)

The Stilo does not have the same stare inducing looks of the bravo. There are some angles that the Stilo looks ok, but overall, it looks a little clumsier.
Generally, the newer models don't have that x-factor that the coupe, barchetta, bravo & punto mk 2 all had when they were released one after the other. It just seemed that the design team were on a roll for a couple of years.

 

[Anonymous]

Stilo Abarth GT

The Stilo Abarth, anyone seen any reviews of the manual version?

Anyone driven it?

 

[Roberto]

Re: Stilo Abarth GT

I drove the Selespeed, and was one of a rare few that actually really liked it. I intend to try the manual soon, and I also intend on trying out a few of it's peers in the very near future, as I'm hoping to get something new quite soon

I'll let you know

Rob



The Temperature At Which Truth Burns

 

[Marko]

Re: Stilo Abarth GT

I read a review of the facelifted Stilo Abarth. I don't remember much of the detail as it was a couple of months back but the guy was very excited by it and felt that although it wasn't going to be a performance leader in the market it did have enough appeal for it to compete in that bracket.

 

[thomas]

Re: Stilo Abarth GT

I have seen a review of the Stilo 2.4 Abarth GT without the paddle shift in Autocar. They basically said it was a fine car just not the best and it needs more power to challenge the Focus RS as its a warm hatch by comparison. Its considerably quicker than the selespeed version.

I wonder how it sounds in comparison with an HGT...

Ive only ever sat in a Stilo Abarth and it was very pleasant inside. Better than Bravo - no question.

I'd actually like one!

 

[PeteIreland]

Re: Stilo Abarth GT

I have to admit that I am considering getting a 1.6 Stilo to replace my Bravo..the only thing that lets down the Stilo are the rear lights...they look to much like a Corolla...love the front of it.

 

[thomas]

Re: Stilo Abarth GT

I think Fiat could revive the Abarth brand somewhat by going all out to create a really hairy Stilo

Take the 2.4 5 cylinder engine, Turbocharge it to 230 - 240 BHp, tweek it here and there, give it some subtle Abarth syling inside and out and make it corner like its on rails.

Its surely not to much to ask...or beg for

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Stilo Abarth GT

Get the same team of mechanics together that tinkered with the Delta to make the much-feared Integrale.

Four wheel drive, lots of power and spot-on handling.

I know for one, I'd forgive it its styling faults and buy one straight away.

 

[thomas]

Re: Stilo Abarth GT

See! You'd buy one and you dont even like the styling! Winner

For those who do like the styling (3dr at least) it could be heavenly.

4wd might make it to expensive but it would at least be comparable to a Focus RS and the Megane Sport 225. It would deffo look better than these two!

Better Still and this is perhaps one wank too many...re-launch a special Bravo HGT twin Turbo 4 (one little turbo, one BIG turbo and 4wd). Drool

 

[Robert]

Resurrect the Latin flair

The Bravo was the best looking car in an otherwise boring sector when it was launched in 1995. The 3-door Stilo follows on with that style, it looks almost as good, but no giant leap forward. Then we have the 5-door Stilo...oh dear! Remember the Strada/Ritmo? That was a stunner compared to this. I'd much rather drive a Tipo, a design triumph, and a decade ahead of its rivals when it was launched. I think Fiat is trying to emulate VW somewhat in some of its recent designs, at launch, some Stilo headlines read 'Fiat builds a Golf', and the new facelifted Punto looks like the last Polo, the pre-facelift Punto was stunning, why give it such a face, and why those over-spill rear lights on the 3-door?

On the other hand, the new Panda is a great, funky little car. Fiat got the design of this spot on, and how many of you have seen the Trepiuno? Its like a new 500 from the 60's and its fabulous. Fiat, put this into production PLEASE, and the whole planet will be ditching their Mini's quicker than you can say BMW!

 

[Barakka]

Re: Stilo Abarth GT

Never happen

For one Fiat haven't got the cash to splash on developing a market leader (expensive to develop, expensive to buy, and not many sell)...

and secondly to make the sales worse all the reviewers would slate it beause Fiat's are crap - they don't know how they know this as they've never owned one*, but they just know it...

The rear lights of the Stilo 3 door i've yet to see at night - apparently after the Bravo and Tipo they needed to follow up with something pretty distinctive and the Stilo 3 door ones are designed to look like two arrows pointing up (or forwards) when the lights are on.

(*)Or maybe their aunty Susan owned one - a 1982 Fiat 126 which she had serviced every 4 years or 83,000 miles (whichever was earliest) and boy was it an unreliable piece of c**p

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Stilo Abarth GT

yeah ok styling is not the most important thing, but it needs to be one hell of a grin inducing car.

If it is going to remain bland like the current offerings, then style becomes more important.

(An example, the Mitsubishi Evo - ugly as sin, BUT everyone raves about the power, the poise and the lunatic levels of grip.)

I mean, come on, the abarth has a 2.4 enyine and what did they squeeze out of it - 170.
You telling me that's the best they could do?

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Resurrect the Latin flair

Trepiuno - is one good looking little car.

Will they make it though?

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Resurrect the Latin flair

should i be ashamed that i like / want the RS Renault Megane Turbo. i think its looks amazing quicker than an RS Focus just overall i cant fault it. roll on 25 and cheap insurence..

Smee